An Arizona wife and mother is murdered while on holiday in Mexico. Bailey Crane is an auxiliary cop with the Phoenix PD and is obliquely involved in the case until he visits close friends in Pueblo del Mar. The local police chief seeks Bailey's help in this most unusual caper about a philandering husband and a transvestite lover. There is of course the ever-loving musings of our southern Sherlock, an encounter with a mysterious mystic seer of 'Time and Place,' and just about all the emotions in the human heart and soul. Bailey gets banged around and challenged at the highest level of his endurance. When family and friends are caught in the ugly web of corruption, drugs, and sex, our hero's Cherokee blood hits the boiling point. The brutally devastating climax comes in a 'Whale Shack' on the scrub brush and sand near the Sea of Cortez. This tale was inspired by an actual murder some years ago, and it's one you won't want to miss.

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About the Author

Graduated Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with BA in English. A veteran of the US Navy, honorably discharged. Taught high school 'Advanced Writing.' Worked in textbook publishing. Owned a business. Actor in stage and film. Split residency in Arizona and Mexico. Married to Julie and a Bengal cat named George --- the latter is lovable and has serious attitude. For more information, see my website at: www.booksbybillyraychitwood.weebly.com and www.wix.com/brchitwood/thecrackedmirror

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4.2 out of 5 stars
3 reviews

Patricia

3.0 out of 5 starsCross between thriller and navel gazing -

August 15, 2012 - Published on Amazon.com

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This book begins with an ugly murder and ends with a pretty ugly showdown, but between the two Investigator Bailey Crane spends so much time contemplating time, place, friendship, love, etc, that I often felt he was in the wrong book.Bailey's friend Bob hears a terrible scream from the terrace of his Mexican home. Investigating, he discovers the body of a young neighbor, Kathleen Blaylock and eventually calls in Bailey from Phoenix, AZ, just across the border. Bailey suspects Kathleen's husband Al, but Mexican police think it was Al's girlfriend, Teresa, a beautiful trans-sexual woman. Bailey wins the right to continue the investigation since Kathleen was also a Phoenix resident.From here the plot gets murky. Tie-ins appear accidental, connections are more emotional than logical, Bailey's stints in the hospital feel out of place despite his meeting with the legendary Clive Bascomb, and the ending suggests some pretty sloppy police work. I believe the author tried to combine a philosophical treatise with a murder mystery. He also made just one or two homophobic remarks. I don't think either was a good idea.I loved Scurry, the dog!